Mark McNeil

"I was born on Friday the 13th which explains everything"

Sounds Like:

Some people think I sound like Tom Petty but I'm not so sure.

Influences:

Everything from early blues to traditional and contemporary folk to alt. country to Hawaiian music to The Beatles and a whole pile of more recent performers. These days I listen to a lot of Steve Earle, Ron Sexsmtih, Feist, Danny Michel, Madison Violet, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Dan Lanois, Catherine MacLellan and Richard Thompson.

My name is Private Riley I come from Hamilton
I needed some extra shillings so I joined the battalion
They shipped me on a cattle car with a battered musket gun
We made a stand at Ridgeway against the bloody Fenians

I'm a soldier, I'm a soldier, with my pack and uniform
when they called I was ready always ready in peace and war

My name is Private Riley through Flanders and the Somme
Crawled through clouds of chlorine gas along the Western front
We waited cold and shivering for the rising of the sun
We took the Ridge at Vimy, had the Germans on the run.

(CHORUS)

My name is Private Riley on the beaches of Dieppe
We waded through the water with our guns above our heads
Gerry sat and picked us off in a hail of screaming lead
We bravely charged forward as the water all turned red.

(CHORUS)

My name is Private Riley deployed in Kandahar
I watch for suicide bombers, forever I'm on guard
And sometimes I do wonder have I really come that far
From the scared kid with the musket riding in a cattle car.

I think it’s just a matter of time
’til you drive me insane
You say I’m being a little dramatic
But hear me what I say
You know you’re always
Leaving a mess while making another
Running around unhinged
And all you got to say for yourself
You’re distracted by shiny things

Shiny things
Call out to you
Shiny things
No matter what you do
Shiny things, Shiny things
Shine on you

I’ll tell you honey, I try to do my part
What’s expected of me
But when something shiny comes along
It knocks you off your feet
I know you’re always
Losing your keys, showing up late
Fingers tied with string
I don’t know why. It’s just because
You’re distracted by shiny things
Shiny things
Flashing in your view
Shiny things
Everywhere like jewels
Shiny things, Shiny things
Shine on you

You say it’s just the way you are
A spirit needs to be free
But I don’t know it sounds a lot
Like some kind of A-D-D
Because you’re always
Letting me down, leaving me stranded
I take it on the chin
That’s what happens when you get messed up
With someone who likes shiny things

Shiny things
Call out to you
Shiny things
You made front page news
Shiny things, Shiny things
Shine on you

I am interested in:

Other Jobs:

Newspaper writer and editor at TheHamilton Spectator

Biography:

For as long as I can remember I have felt the urge to write songs and tell stories. For three decades I've worked by day as a newspaper writer and editor and by night I've written songs and performed in and around the Hamilton area. I've recorded four albums so far. I'm passionate about home recording and more recently I've found that my songwriting process has transformed that I write and record my songs at the same time. I use Pro Tools as a major tool to help me develop the idea that usually starts with a groove and a few words.

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